JOHN Ardy Silva and Duane Legaspi from Ruby Wong's Godown were awarded as the first-ever bartender duo champion in the recent Rémy Martin Philippines Barrel-Aged Cocktail Competition finals held at The Ministry at Shangri-La The Fort.

Their winning unique blend 'Avant-Garde' is a perfectly balanced aged drink — a result of the relationship between the barrel, the 1738 Accord Royal, vermouth and umeshu, with an added punch of olive cordial. The challenge for the finalists was to age the 1738 Accord Royal and conceptualize a cocktail highlighting the distinct fruity flavor and oaky smoothness of the 1738 Accord Royal.